Electric cigar-lighter



No. 623,480. Patented Apr. I8, |899. W. F.KESSLER.

ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER.

(Application led Oct. 17, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

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No. 623,2l80. Patented Apr. I8,'|899.

W. F. KESSLER.

ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER.

(Application filed Oct. 17, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W/TNESSES ,l M /N VENTO/9 Y. By `v Y um @qw WW M5; Amm/v5 rs` I urna.. wAsmNaTnN n c UNIrn WILLIAM r. KESsLER, or AUBURN, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC CIGAR-LIGHTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,480, dated April 18, 1899.

Application filed October 17, 1898. Serial No. 693,704. (No model To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. KESSLER,'

of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Cigar-Lighters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric cigar-lighters.

The object of my p'resent invention is to provide an automatic cigar-lighter of increased simplicity of construction and operation whose parts are so united that all portions thereof are out of the path of the blaze when ignited for use, having a horizontal swiveled shell-body for the operative mechanism of novel arrangement, within which the spark is thrown; having a hand-lever in close proximity to the bowl-handle, provided upon one end thereof with an extinguishingcap and adapted'to operate the sparking device by a positive movement; provided with improved means for establishing electrical connection with the contactpoint of the sparking-lever, and provided with a detachable connection with the supporting-arm.

The principal novel features of my invention are the construction and relative arrangement of the containing-shell body and the manner and means for throwing the ignition-spark.

My invention consists of a horizontal shellbody rigidly fixed upon the vertical wicktube and suspended from or in the supporting-frame by a pivotal connection and a hand-lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the wick-tube and carrying the extinguishing-cap and the sparking device.

ln the accompanying drawings similar reference-numerals indicate like parts in the several views, in which- Figure l is a side View of my improvement with a portion of the shell-casing broken away to show the operating hand-lever, extinguishing-cap, and sparking device in the relative positions they assume when the wick I dle for my improvement.

is ignited. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showin g the shell-body, detachable cap sparking-lever, and supporting-frame all in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a View in elevation of my improvement, taken at right angles to Figs. l and 2, showing, approximately, the relati ve position assumed by the shell-body when the wick is ignited for use. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the means for detaching the lighter from its support. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan of the shell-body, taken in transverse section, showing the contained mechanism. Fig. G is a detail view of the sparking device.

The metallic shell-body 6 in horizontal arrangement of any desired dimensions or contour, preferably rectangular, as shown, has a central circular blaze-opening upon its upper .face and midway its ends, surrounded by an upright annular flange S. The oil-receptacle l has a proper lateral opening 48 for iilling the same. At directly opposite points in the ends of said shell 6 and midway the sides thereof are arranged circular openings in which are loosely mounted the inner ends of the tubular pivots 20,havin g an annular flange 2l and having their outer ends screw-threaded and adapted to iit corresponding screwthreaded openings in the adjacent end of the supporting-frame, whereby the said shellbody has a swiveled connection with said supporting-frame, hereinafter described.

The shell or casing 6 has a longitudinal slot of proper dimensions in its lower face, extending somewhat past a point midway of its ends. In the inner end of this slot is arranged the upper end of the wick-tube 25, whose free end is oblique and preferably rectan gular in cross-section, forming the burner, which has its upper edge provided with a iixed steel wire 40 to prevent undue wear upon the contact-point of said tube or burner by the sparking device. To the lower end of this wick-tube is secured or cast integral therewith a pear-shaped or cylindrical oil-receptacle or Huid-reservoir 1, which may be of any desired contour and is adapted to form a proper han- This receptacle 1 and the integral wick-tube 25 are rigidly secured to the said shell 6 by means of proper holding-screws il, which pass through the bottom of said shell adjacent to said slot and are secured in the lug '7 on said tube, access ICO to said screws by a proper tool being afforded bythe said circular opening in the upper face ot the said shell. At a proper point on the side of said reservoir is arranged a lateral bifurcated lug 43, in which is pivotally fulcrumed an upright hand-lever 4, having a handle 5 upon its lower end adapted to be pressed against the said reservoir 1 by the hand of the operator, Fig. 1. The upper end of said lever 4 is provided upon its inner face with a chambered lug having an oblique face adapted to snugly fit the said oblique face of the burner or wick-tube, thus forming an extinguishing-cap which is adapted to receive the slightly-protruding wick 42 without contact therewith, adapted to contain a sufficient accumulation of gas from the extinguished wick to aid in ignition. To the outer face of the upper end of said lever 4 the sparking device is fixed, consisting of a spring-arm 10, having a contact-point 11 pivoted on its upper free end. This spring-arm 10 is xed and insulated from the said lever 4 b v the holding-screws 12and 13, which pas'sthrough suitable openings in an interposed insulationplate 14 and then through a longitudinal slot 4 in said lever 4 and out ot' contact therewith, the screw 12 then passing through a screwthreaded opening in a second insulating-plate 14 upon the inner face of the lever 4. By loosing the screw 12 the spring-arm 10 can readily be adjusted to compensate for wear upon the said pivoted contact 11. This springarm 10 has its upper end bent to approximately a right angle with its lower portion and so arranged as to -normally project diametrically over and in close proximity to the burner, Fig. 2. The said pivoted contact 11 resembles in form a bell-crank lever, with its lower pendent arm adapted to firmly contact the said wired edge of the said burner or tube 25 when the handle 5 of the lever 4 is pressed toward the receptacle 1, the upper horizontal arm of the contact 11 bearing upon the adjacent face of said spring-arm, Fig. 2. Then the lever 4 has carried the sparking-contact to the limit of its outward movement, Fig. 1, it will be outof the path of the blaze 47. On a fixed transverse pin 1S is mounted a coil-spring 19, to the upright end ot' which is secured the ends of the spring-wire loop 17, the looped end thereof passing through a proper lateral aperture in the upper end of the lever 4, immediately at the rear of the extinguishing-cap, thereby normally securing the said lever 4 and its surlnounted sparking device in the position shown in Fig. 2. In the opposite of said shell (3, and preferably to the upper side thereof, is fixed an insulating block or strip 23, to the lower face of which is secured, by holdin g-screws or in any other proper manner, one end of the metallic plate 22, whose inner free end is at all times in contact and electrical connection with the said spring-arm 10, as shown. The insulated wire 24, Fig. 2, in the tubular supporting-frame has its lower end soldered to the fixed end of said plate 2, as shown.

The parallel upright sections 2G of this frame are rigidly connected at their Lipper end by a hollow cross piece or section 2S, to which they are united by a screw-threaded connection. An integral hollow open-topped lug or casting 20, preferably cylindrical in form, is arranged midway the ends of said section 2S, the bottom of which is inclined to the conical form and contains a snugly-fitted circular in- 'sulated plate 32, Fig. 4, having a central opening in which is tightly fitted a copper rivet 33, having an annular flange 44 thereon to aid in preventing displacement thereof. This rivet or post 33 has an opening or slot in its top to receive the adjacent tapered end of the metallic post 3G. The upper end of the said wire 24 is soldered to the top of said rivet. The upper portion of this casting 29 is internally screw-threaded and contains a circular metallic plate 34, mounted therein bya screwthreaded connection. This plate 34 has a circular opening 45 of proper size to contain the annular lug 46 on the said post 36 without contact with said plate 34. On the upper face of the plate 34 is arranged an insulating-plate 35, secured thereto by proper holding-screws and having a central opening for the post 3G, which is secured against displacement by the fixed collar 46. To the top of the post 36 the inner end of the leading-in wire 3S is soldered. The leading-out wire 3E) has its innerend soldered to the said plate 34. A conical cap 30 is mounted upon said casting 29 by a screwthreaded connection. By this construction myim proved lighter can readily be detached from its support at pleasure without removing or deranging the said wires 38 and 3i).

The operation ot' my invention thus described is obvious and, briefly stated, is as follows: As the wire 38 is electrically connected to the pivoted sparking device l1 through the post 3G, wire 24, plate 22, and spring-arm 10, all of which are insulated as described, and as the wire 39 is electrically connected to the wick-tube and burner through the plate 34 and the said supporting-frame, it follows that when the operator presses the handle 5 of the lever 4 from its normal position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1 against the tension of said coil-spring 17 an ignitingspark will be thrown by the momentary striking contact of the sparking device 11 with the wire 40 on the adjacent edge of the burner, as described. By this movement the extinguishing-cap and sparking device are withdrawn from the path of the blaze, Fig. 1, and by the same movement the swiveled case or shell body G is withdrawn from its vertical alinernent with the said chambered casting 2f) during the time the wick is ignited, thereby avoiding the usual smoking and tarnishing of the said casting and frame, Fig. 3. Then the operator has lighted his cigar at the blaze 47, which issues an inch and one-half or two inches above the flanged opening of said shell, Fig. 3, he releases his hold upon the lever 4, allowing it under the tension of the spring 17 ICO IIO

to resume its normal position, thereby extinguishing the blaze and storing up a limited quantity of gas in the extinguishing-cap to aid the ignition-spark in lighting the wick. The oil-receptacle when released promptly resumes its vertical position by gravity. Obviously the blaze thus produced within the case or shell 6 is`fully protected against the effect of sudden drafts of air usual in locations where cigar-lighters are used.

It is also obvious that the mere form and contour of the oil-receptacle, the shell-body, or the supporting-frame is wholly immaterial, and the means for normally securing the lever in its position may bevaried at pleasure without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, which consists, broadly, in a swiveled horizontal shell-body in which the igniting-spark is thrown by a hand-lever.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. An electric cigar-lighter consisting of a horizon tally-arranged containing case or shell pivotally mounted in or from a proper support, and provided with a suitable opening in its upper face for the purpose specified; a pendent wick-tube and oil-reservoir fixed in said shell; a hand-lever pivotally fulcrunied on said reservoir carrying an extinguishingcap upon its inner end in cooperative relationwith the burner of said wick-tube, and provided with a pivoted sparking device adapted to throw the ignition-spark within said shell; and means for normally securing said lever in position.

2. In an electric cigar-lighter a horizontally-arranged shell or casing having a blazeopening in the upper face thereof, and provided with a iixed wick-tube and oil-supply; and means for throwing the ignition-spark within the said shell.

3. In an electric cigar-lighter a pivoted horizontal shell or casing having a vertical blazeopening; a fixed wick-tube; a hand-lever pivoted on said tube and carryingan extinguishing-cap and a sparking device adapted to be actuated by said hand-lever, and adapted to throw the ignition-spark within the said shell.

4. The combination in an electric cigarlighter of a vertical supporting-frame; a horizontal shell or casing 6 pivoted in from the lower portion ot' said frame; a pendent wicktube ixed in or to said casing; a hand-lever fulcrumed on said tube with its inner and upper end provided with an extinguishing-cap; an insulated sparking device pivoted on said lever and adapted to throw. the i gniting-spark within the containing-shell by contacting the adjacent end of the wick-tube; and means for automatically securing the said lever and said sparking device in their normal position after each operation.

5. An electric cigar-lighter comprising a horizontal shell having a vertical name-opening, and a fixed Wick-tube projecting into the same, the said shell being pivotally mounted in a proper support; Aand means for throwing theignition-spark within said shell by a positive movement of an operating hand-lever A and a hand-lever pivoted on said wick-tube and provided with an extinguishing-cap.

6. In an electric cigar-lighter, means for detaching the saine from its support, consisting of a hollow xed or integral casting on said frame, having on its lower portion an insulated horizontal plate, and having the periphery of its open top internally screwthreaded; a metallic post mounted in said plate for the purpose shown; a circular lnetallic plate mounted in the upper portion of said casting by a screw-threaded connection as shown, having a central opening for the purpose specified and having the inner end of the return-wire secured thereto; avertical insulated metallic post suspended in said opening, adapted to register and form an electrical connection with the post in said insulated plate, and having the leading-in wire connected thereto; and a detachable cap adapted to close the top of said casting by a screw-threaded connection.

Signed by me, at Auburn, county of De Kalb, State of Indiana, this 12th day of October, A. D. 1898.

VILLIAM F. KESSLER.

Titnessesz RUssELL W. GUILFORD, XV. W. STIMELEY. 

